Syndicate

LAUREL, MD. 12-17-11---Dark Hollow Farm’s Plum was up in the final jump to win the $75,000 Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship, the co-feature on the closing day card at Laurel Park.

Travis Dunkelberger was at the controls as the daughter of Pure Prize prevailed in the 7-1/2 furlong test, as he helped her win by just a head over More Than a Cruise, with frontrunner Bluegrass Atatude two lengths farther back in third.

“I thought I got there,” said Dunkelberger. “They were getting away from me on the turn. I hit her right-handed, she kind of sulked a little. I hit her left-handed, she exploded. Amazing filly.”

Plum, now three for four lifetime for trainer Rodney Jenkins, has made all of her starts at Laurel Park. Jenkins won last year’s running of the Juvenile Filly Championship with Love’s Reason.

“This filly as done everything we’ve asked her,” said Jenkins. “It gives you confidence when breeders like their own horses and care about them. We haven’t seen the best of this filly. Wait until she goes a mile and an eighth or a mile and a quarter. I ran her long three times with her coming into the race so I didn’t have the speed but I noticed Travis out broke them. She is a nice filly and is dead honest. She has such a natural stride. The rest of them looked like they were running their eye-balls out and she is galloping along. She has a good mind, good size and will grow into a better filly than she is now.”

Plum stopped the clock in 1:33.95 and paid $5.20 as the betting favorite.